12 Days Uganda Primates , wildlife and hiking Rwenzori

This 12 days Uganda safari will take you to the most beautiful destinations in Uganda such as Lake Bunyonyi, Bwindi , Mount Rwenzori , Kibale National Park , Bigodi Swamp , Murchison Falls , Jinja and Source of the Nile .
Tour Highlights
Equator line Experience
Lake Bunyonyi
Gorilla trekking
Hike to Mount Rwenzori
Chimpanzee tracking
Swamp walk in Bigodi
Game Drives
Boat Cruise
Hike to the top of the falls
Rhino Tracking
Jinja City
Source of the Nile

Tour Summary .
Day 1 : Pick up and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi .
Day 2 : Full day Lake Bunyonyi Experience
Day 3 : Transfer to Bwindi and Batwa community visit
Day 4 : Gorilla tracking and transfer to Rwenzori
Day 5 and 6 : Hiking
Day 7 : Descend and Transfer to Kibale
Day 8 : Chimpanzee tracking and transfer to Masindi
Day 9: Hike to the top of the falls and boat cruise
Day 10: Morning Game drive and Rhino Tracking
Day 11: Transfer to Jinja
Day 12 : Source of the Nile
Detailed Itinerary.
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi .
You will be picked up from the Hotel in Kampala after breakfast by your guide from Primate Experts Uganda . Thereafter drive to the southwestern part of Uganda via Masaka, you will have two stopovers; at the Equator to take photographs and buy souvenirs and also in Mbarara for lunch. Later continue as you drive through the rolling hills with banana plantations, the stunning terraced Kigezi highlands.
Basically it will be a great journey as you will have great views of various landscapes. On reaching Lake Bunyonyi , Check in to the lodge , relax and depending on the time of arrival , enjoy the evening sunset
Meal plan : Lunch and Dinner .
Accommodation : Bushara Island Camp
Day 2 : Full day Lake Bunyonyi Experience
In the morning after breakfast , you will go for a canoe trip on the lake whereby you will be able to see various birds, communities, landforms such as the islands (around 29 islands are in the lake). Take as much photographs as you can. After the canoe, have lunch and in the evening go for a community/nature walk through the Batwa and Abaheesi communities.
Meal plan : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner .
Accommodation : Bushara Island Camp

Day 3 : Transfer to Bwindi and Batwa community visit
In the morning after breakfast , you will check out of your lodge and head to Bwindi , the home of the Gorillas .
Reaching Bwindi , you will check in at your lodge , relax as you listen from beautifull songs by the birds around the lodge .
In the afternoon after lunch , go for the Batwa community visit and enjoy their local way of living and participate in some activities like cooking , coffee making locally , and the local banana gin experience .
Meal plan : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner .
Accommodation : Ruhondeza lodge and campsite
Day 4 : Gorilla tracking and transfer to Rwenzori
The ultimate safari experience in the ‘jungles of Africa’, spending the day with the gigantic gentle mountain gorillas. The adventure hiking through Bwindi impenetrable forest in search of gorillas is a unique experience. You will start with a briefing from the ranger guides after which you are divided into group to track different gorilla families.
You will then hike the forest in search of the gorillas with leading from the ranger guide. Once you locate the gorillas with your ranger guide, observe them for an hour after which you will start the walk out of the forest.
Since you leave the lodge with packed lunch going for the gorillas , after trekking , either you have your lunch in the forest , at the park offices or on the way as you drive to Rwenzori .
On this drive , you go through Queen Elizabeth National park and enjoy gave viewing in our open popup safari vehicle reaching Rwenzori in the evening , check in to your lodge and overnight .
Meal plan – Breakfast, lunch & Dinner
Day 5 : Start of the hike
Early in the morning after breakfast, meet with your climb guide and the rest of the team for briefing and also conduct a thorough kit check.
Today’s hike is 8.6 km, expected time 5 to 7 hours. The start height is 1,667 meters, climbing to 3,171 meters. Leaving the Trekkers Hostel at approx. 10am, you walk 2.2km to the UWA rangers post at 1,727m, where you will be briefed on the rules of the Park
As you leave the rangers post you walk along a path through tall grassland and giant ferns which gives way to beautiful rainforest. As this is a new route the forest is largely untouched and carries a wide variety of trees and plants. Many species of bird can also be heard and seen in this rich environment, as can Chimpanzees and Colobus monkeys. Upon entering the forest, the first few kilometers of the trail climb steadily, crossing several small streams and rivers. At a height of 2,596, you reach sine hut where the atmosphere is decorated with wooden huts that are set between forest tall trees on a narrow ridge. While here, you have the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the forest as well as the tenacity of waterfalls crashing over the rocks. Enock’s falls, which are just within the proximity at this point also offer a spectacular views that many wish to forever. The churning action of the waters falling creates an everlasting impression.
From Sine camp, the trail becomes gradually steeper as you enter the bamboo zone. You will witness a series of rare vegetation as well as various species of birds like the Rwenzori turaco which has bright red or crimson wings. At about 3,000 metres altitude, you reach the Heather zone where the Gaint Heather trees reach 15 metres in height. The trail becomes gradually steeper as you enter the bamboo zone and ascend a high ridge, at the top of which is Samalira Camp, where you will rest for the night. As you near the top of the ridge, you break out of the bamboo to fantastic views of the valleys and hills below looking across to Lake George and Queen Elizabeth National Park in the distance. The equator lies just north of Lake George. Samalira Camp is situated amidst giant heathers, with amazing views over the lowlands below.
• Approx. 5 to 7 hours
• Samalira Camp
• Light Lunch and Dinner
Day 6 : To Kalalama Camp
After a hearty breakfast commence walking. The trail becomes steeper as you enter the bamboo zone. During the rainy season this section of the trail can also become exceptionally muddy.
As you near the top of the ridge and exit the bamboo zone you will be greeted by fantastic views of the valleys and hills below. On a clear day, the view extends all the way across to Lake George and Queen Elizabeth National Park. As you continue to hike, the bamboo forest will gradually give way to forests of giant tree heather and lobelias of a kind that can only be found in the Rwenzori Mountains. After 6.9km as you near the top of the ridge, you will approach Kalalama Camp (3,153m), where you rest tonight. Kalalama camp has fantastic views of the valleys.
From here, you pass through mossy ridges to more heather forests, after which you will encounter flat valleys that are punctuated by many lobelia plants. From here you climb a short distance to Kyravilla and descend down a stunning moss covered ridge back to Samalira Camp nestled in a small dip in the landscape but with fantastic views.
• Approx. 4-6 hours
• Kalalama Camp (3,153m)
• Lunch and Dinner
Day 7 :Descend to Kilembe and transfer to Kibale
After breakfast at Kalalama Camp, we shall descend through the bamboo forest, back into the Afro montane zone and down the ridge to the Rangers Post, arriving early afternoon. It is a short walk down to the Trekkers Hostel, where your trek ends.
After this great trek, transfer to Kibale reaching in the evening and check in the lodge .
Meal Plan : Breakfast , Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation : Rwetera safari park
Day 8 : Chimpanzee Tracking and Transfer to Masindi .
Today is the Chimpanzee tracking day in the primate capital of the world – Kibale National Park. After your breakfast, your driver guide will transfer you to the briefing point before the chimp trek. The experienced ranger guide will take you through a briefing on what to expect and how to conduct yourself in the forest.
After the briefing, you will start the hike through the tropical forest for an unforgettable and rewarding experience in search of man’s closest relatives the Chimpanzees. You are allowed 1 hour in their presence after locating them.
After Chimpanzee tracking , you will drive to Masindi Town for overnight with enroute lunch .
Meal Plan : Breakfast , Lunch and Dinner .
Accommodation : Masindi Hotel .
Day 9: Hike to the top of the falls and boat cruise
Early in the morning after breakfast , drive to Murchsion falls national park and continue to the top of the falls .
Enjoy spectacular views, experience the cooling sensation of the gentle spray and listen to the crashing of the water as you make your way to the top. From this vantage point, you will see the powerful, churning waters force through a narrow gorge before dropping to the depths below.
If you enjoy history, you may be interested to learn that you are following in the footsteps of Winston Churchill and the explorer Samuel Baker, who also explored the area around the waterfall. The 1951 film ‘The African Queen’ starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn, was filmed at Murchison Falls.
From The top of the falls , check in your lodge and have lunch .
In the afternoon look forward to the famed boat Safari on River Nile from where you watch different animals along the shore and continue to about ten meters from the bottom of Murchison falls – also known as ‘Devils cauldron”. This fulfilling boat cruise cannot be found anywhere in Africa with the variety of wild animals and birds.
Meal Plan : Breakfast , Lunch and Dinner .
Accommodation options: Red chili rest camp.
Day 10: Morning Game drive and transfer to the Rhinos .
The highlight of this park is game viewing in our custom made vehicles. Anticipate capturing good pictures of, Giraffes as they move through the grasslands, Jackson’s Hartebeest, buffaloes, Uganda Kobs, Elephants, Waterbucks etc. After this magical experience on the game drive in the plains of Murchison falls , exit the park and head your way to Ziwa Rhino sanctuary for Rhino tracking .
Ziwa is the only home to the wild white Rhinos in Uganda and gives you 100% chances to see the rhinos in their natural setting.
Meal Plan : Breakfast , Lunch and Dinner .
Accommodation : Ziwa guest house .
Day 11 : Transfer to Jinja.
The drive to Jinja passes through different towns which gives you an encounter with the activities of the people as they carry on with their daily lives.
Also, this travel gives you an opportunity to enjoy the natural breeze of the natural forest of Mabira and the scenic views of both the sugarcane and tea plantations.

Day 12 : Source of the Nile and End of the tour .
Uganda is the source of River Nile – the world’s longest river from where the Nile starts its 4000 mile journey to the Mediterranean sea through to Sudan and Egypt. The source of river Nile is located in Jinja about 1,5 hours from Kampala, the capital city of Uganda.
The Nile starts its journey to Egypt from Lake Victoria in Jinja town – eastern Uganda. When you drive out to the source of the Nile, your first encounter are the beautiful gardens in the vicinity. Next is the several craft shops with mostly African pieces sourced from all over the country. You can then visit and photograph several monuments which have a historical attachment to the Nile. For example, Mahatma Gandhi requested that some of his ashes be sprinkled in the Nile after cremation along many other rivers in the world.
In the afternoon you can chose to do a Jinja city tour , Tubing the Nile , Rafting or stay at the hotel and relax .
Being the last day , depending on your flight arrangement , and time , decide with the guide the time of leaving Jinja and drop you either at the Airport or your hotel in Kampala .